Redoubt is the fourth literary fiction book in the Collegium Chronicles series by author Mercedes Lackey.
Mags, a young student of the Herald in Haven, the capital of the Valdemar kingdom, has talents not commonly found in students of the Herald.

Realizing this, the King’s Own Herald decides to train Mags as a spy to uncover the secret of a mysterious new enemy that has taken an interest in Mags himself. Why is the even deeper mystery. The answers can only be found in the most unexpected corners of Mags’ past… assuming he might live long enough to find them.

This story continues the mystery behind Mags’ past and his burgeoning relationship with Amily. It’s a good read but doesn’t deserve five stars. However, the problem started halfway when the story suddenly switched from Haven to the mines. Two paragraphs in the chapter and you realize you’ve read all of this before. Some chapters have been lifted almost verbatim from the first book in the series, Foundation with just a few sentences here and there to assure you that no major mistake has been made on behalf of the publisher. Finally, an expedition comes with the revelation that Mags has been captured and is being drugged.

This part drags on and the rescue, when it finally arrives, is rushed and extremely unsatisfying. The story ends in a hurry and the end of the last chapter doesn’t match the frenetic pace of the run from Karse. I find myself turning the page over and over to make sure I haven’t missed a chapter. I would love to see more of the rescue force on the Valdemarar side, Mags’ reaction to being safe and going home and certainly a longer and deeper reunion with Dallen. They’ve been apart for weeks and haven’t even said “I miss you”!

Let me begin this review with condolences to those who chose this book as their first adventure into Mercedes Lackey’s Velgarth and Valdemar’s Messenger. This book is not an exact indication of her (almost profound) earlier books, in short, excellent. I find it difficult and somewhat silly to say that a book “hurts” my feelings, but to be honest, I have never been disappointed with such a piece of literature before.

• Redoubt

• Valdemar: Collegium Chronicles, Book 4
• By: Mercedes Lackey

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